Local Recommendations
Eric’s Local Recommendations
The people Eric would call for his own home.
These are the local businesses Eric trusts, plus a few of his favorite places to eat. He’ll keep adding to this list.
These recommendations are personal. No one pays to be listed on this page. Please check licenses and insurance and get written estimates before hiring.
Local services
Local businesses Eric trusts
Home Watch
Peekaboo Home Watch
Scheduled weekly or bi-weekly checks on your home while you're away, based in Venice and serving Wellen Park.
Pool Service
Neptune Pool Services
Family-owned pool cleaning and maintenance, plus pressure washing, based in Venice.
HVAC
Bowersox Air Conditioning & Heating
Family-owned air conditioning and heating repair, maintenance and installation, based in Venice.
Home Decor
Trim My Crib™
A design-build interior detail company: media walls, accent walls and wood ceilings, inside and out.
Eric is a co-owner of Trim My Crib™.
Plumbing
Stars and Stripes Plumbing
Plumbing repairs, drain cleaning, water heaters and leak detection, locally owned in North Port.
Painting
Coastal Paint and Design
Eric's pick for painting. Owner Michael Clary, based in Venice.
Land Surveying
Shremshock Surveying, Inc.
Eric's pick for land surveying. A family-owned firm in North Port offering boundary surveys, FEMA elevation certificates and more.
Home Solar
Tesla
Eric's pick for home solar.
Paver Sealing
Seal My Pavers
Paver cleaning and sealing for driveways, walkways, patios and pool decks, based in Venice and serving Wellen Park.
Roofing
Sarty Roofing
Roofing with Charlie Sarty.
Airport Shuttle
Bry’s Car Service
Private, door-to-door rides between the Venice area and Sarasota, Tampa, Punta Gorda, Fort Myers and other Florida airports.
Bike Shop
Real Bikes Venice
Bike sales, full-service repairs and rentals, including e-bikes, right off the Legacy Trail in Venice.
Fishing Charter
Silver Obsession Charters
Light-tackle tarpon and inshore fishing charters with Capt. Joshua Arent, based in Boca Grande and fishing Charlotte Harbor.
Alterations
Precision Tailoring by Zina
Clothing alterations and tailoring, including wedding and formal wear, plus leather and suede repairs, in downtown Venice.
Local favorites
Recommended Local Spots
Japanese
Fuji Sushi Hibachi
Wellen Park, Venice
Sushi, hibachi dinners and noodle dishes in the West Villages Marketplace plaza on Mercado Drive.
Thai & American
Sand Trap Bar & Grill
Venice Village, Venice
Sports bar serving both Thai and American dishes, in the Venice Village shopping center on South Tamiami Trail.
Thai & Japanese
SushiOo
North Port
Thai curries and stir-fries alongside sushi and sashimi, on Tamiami Trail.
Pizza
Mama Maria’s Pizzeria and Subs
Venice
Pizza, subs and calzones in Galleria Plaza on South Tamiami Trail, with dine-in, pickup and delivery.
Italian
Valenti’s Ristorante
Venice
Italian dishes, pasta and pizza on East Venice Avenue.
Indian
Tikka Indian Cuisine
Venice
Indian curries including tikka masala, clay-oven dishes and fresh naan, in Bird Bay Plaza.
Thai & Sushi
The Star Thai & Sushi
Venice
Thai curries, noodle dishes and sushi rolls on the US 41 Bypass.
Italian
Cassariano Italian Eatery
Downtown Venice
Italian lunch and dinner on West Venice Avenue in downtown Venice.
Steakhouse & Seafood
Fins at Sharky’s
Venice Beach
Steaks, Gulf seafood and sushi on the beach, overlooking the Venice Fishing Pier.
Seafood
Deep Lagoon Seafood & Oyster House
Casey Key, Osprey
Fresh seafood and oysters, with weekend brunch, at the Blackburn Point Road location.
Asian Fusion
Big Bamboo Asian Fusion
El Jobean, Port Charlotte
Japanese, Thai, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese dishes, plus sushi and poke bowls.
Seafood
Farlow’s On The Water
Englewood
Waterfront restaurant serving fresh catches with Caribbean and Southern touches.
Fine Dining & Sushi
Magnolias on the Bay
Manasota Key, Englewood
Upscale dining and sushi with indoor and outdoor seating overlooking Lemon Bay.
Seafood, Steak & Sushi
The Waverly Restaurant & Bar
Manasota Key, Englewood
Seafood, steaks and sushi above Englewood Beach, with Gulf-view dining upstairs and a casual bar downstairs.
Italian
Cafe Barbosso
Palmer Crossing, Sarasota
Peasant-style Italian cooking in the Palmer Crossing plaza, with live music on select nights.
Dine-In Cinema
CMX CineBistro Siesta Key
Crossings at Siesta Key, Sarasota
Movie theater with chef-driven New American menus, handcrafted cocktails and reclining leather seats.
Brewery & Taproom
Big Top Brewing Co.
Fruitville Commons, Sarasota
Locally brewed beers with burgers, wings, seafood and pizzas, plus a large beer garden.
Fine Dining
Michael’s On East
Midtown Plaza, Sarasota
Contemporary fine dining in Midtown Plaza, just south of downtown Sarasota.
Steakhouse
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
University Town Center, Bradenton
Prime steaks and wine at University Parkway and Cooper Creek Boulevard, across from The Mall at University Town Center.
Steakhouse
The Capital Grille
University Town Center, Sarasota
Dry-aged steaks, chops and seafood with an award-winning wine list, at The Mall at University Town Center.
Island-Inspired
Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar
St. Armands Circle, Sarasota
Island-inspired food and handcrafted cocktails on St. Armands Circle, with a daily happy hour.
Steakhouse
Bern’s Steak House
Tampa
Prime steaks dry-aged in house, one of the world’s largest wine collections and the Harry Waugh Dessert Room, on South Howard Avenue.
Recommendations are Eric Johnston’s personal opinions, shared as a free neighbor resource. Eric Johnston and Hoover Realty LLC aren’t responsible for the work of any third-party business.